Gadfly , you are a bit naive if you think all babies bring happiness. They don't.
Maybe they bring happiness to you, but don't presume to know how others feel.

In a perfect world, no one would have to have an abortion, but that is just a fantasy world.

Many pro life people are against the 'morning after pill' aren't they?
If a couple have sex in a drunken stupor one night, and they forget to use the condom, then if the woman rushes to the chemist the next day and takes that pill, how on earth could that be considered murder?

Yet, all forms of contraception is banned by the Catholic Church.
In this day and age, having multiple children is not financially and environmentally wise.
Yet this church is saying no contraception and no abortion...

They are out of touch and out of date with the current modern world, and a group of supposedly celibate old men in the Vatican should have no say in anyone else's sex lives!

I can assure you that abortion will never be illegal in this country again.
I do fervently hope however, that one day a full proof contraception can be supplied to all those who don't want children...

Dear Suseonline,

You wrote: "I can assure you that abortion will never be illegal in this country again.
I do fervently hope however, that one day a full proof contraception can be supplied to all those who don't want children..."

I also hope for a fool proof contraceptive, but I do not share your sureness that abortion will never be illegal in this country again. If there are enough primitives and religious nutters they can take us back to the days of DIY abortions, the backyard butchers, suicides and unwanted babies.

My former wife was a visiting nurse many years ago. She was fired because she gave contraceptive information to a woman with eight children.

This whole thread is crazy. We are commenting on an article which objected to restraints on harassment of women. it is entirely reasonable to prevent harassment.

@Suseonline
"If a couple have sex in a drunken stupor one night..."
Then don't get drunk in the first place.

"forget to use the condom..."
One of the limits of 'safe-sex'.

"...having multiple children is not financially and environmentally wise."
Interesting you would say celibate priests should have no say on other people's sex lives, so who are you to denounce people who want many children. What business is it of yours? Are you going to lead some campaign against somebody like say octomom Nadya Suleman?
By the way, this is just a personal observation but it seems to me Muslim families seem to have more children than almnost anybody else (a few years ago I saw a Muslim family driving around in a van with at least 6 children inside). At this rate they might just outnumber everyone else in the long term.

RMW, I don't care if people choose to have many children, although it would be hard for them financially.
.
I care if couples have no choice but to have large families, because an old book and old celibate priests tell them what they can and can't do with their sex lives!

@Suseonline
"...what they can and can't do with their sex lives!"
Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm under the impression that all societies have someone or other tell the people what they can do or not do with their sex lives.
If you believe people should have safe sex, contraception and use condoms, remember you already are telling them what they can do and not do. Age of consent laws again also tell people what they can do and not do. People who believe the world is getting overpopulated believe in setting their own limits on what people can do or not do.

The sensible thing to do is to abstain from sex until you are in a position to care for babies. Sex is designed to produce babies. If you don't want a baby don't start.

However if we are at a point where someone is already pregnant bringing the baby to term and arranging for someone to raise him or her properly (adoption) is making the best of a bad job and many situations in life come down to this. Our experience is that this is the least damaging of the options available. It leaves the mother to walk away from the situation relatively unscathed and the child safe and sound to be raised by people who will care for him or her.